Improvement in book-supports



BooK-SUPPORT.

Patented Feb. 6, 18'77.

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Irlw/el-llfn Y u. PETERS. Puo annum wAsmNaToN D c WILLIAM s. BARNARD, or CANTON, ILLINOIS.

IMPROVEMENT IN BOOK-SUPPORTS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 186.974., dated February 6, 1877; application liled July 12, 1816.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM STEBBINs BARNARD, of Canton, county of Fulton and State of Illinois, have invented a Book-Support, of which the following is a specification rIhis invention relates to a support or holder for books, engravings, photographs, cards, and other things, which it is desired to stand on edge, and retain upright on dat surfaces, as on tables, shelves, Ste. The invention consists in a book support or holder composed of two unconnected angular end pieces to be placed at the two extremities of the row of books to be kept upright, each being adapted to receive and to be held in position by the books set upon its horizontal extension or base, and to support, by its vertical extension or side piece, the outermost volume at its end of the row, being freely movable toward or away from its fellow, in order to accommodate the support or holder to. any number of books.

Figure 1 represents the support or holder in perspective, with books in position between the end pieces. Fig. 2 shows a side view of the support or holder. Figs. 3 to 7 show modified forms of end pieces.

The end pieces, two of which constitute the complete support or holder, are composed each of a horizontal base, a, and of substantially a vertical side piece, b, preferably connected, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, by insert.- ing an upturned flange or lip at the end of a into a slot in or at the end of b. The parts a b may be connected, however, by means of dowels e, on the base a, as shown in Fig. 6, they entering openings in b. They may also be hinged or pivoted, as shown in Fig. 7, for folding together, or the connection between a and b may be made in any other suitable or well-known way, that will permit easy separation of the parts or folding together to facilitate their being packed in a small space.

The side piece will preferably be made of wood, shaped, carved, or ornamented, according to taste, and the slit made at the under surface of the side piece, will fit the ange or lip of the base sufficiently closely to hold the parts firmly together for use. Instead of wood it is obvious that papier-mache, molded sawdust, metal, or other suitable material may be used to form the side piece. These end pieces may be composed of one piece of metal, bent into the form represented in Fig. 3, and with the side piece of any desired configuration or ornamentation, plain, perforated, or otherwise. The Whole or parts of the surfaces of the end pieces may be covered with dock, to prevent scratching of surfaces to which they may be applied, or for ornament, or they may be gilded, bronzed, japanned, painted, enameled, or plated. Instead of making the base a as a solid flat plate, it may be cut out, as at Fig. 4, making a pronged plate, and, if desired, the material at the center portion of a b may be removed, as shown in Fig. 5, or separate strips of metal, wood, or other suitable material may be used instead. The construction shown in Figs. 1 and 2 is preferred, as in wood very agreeable effects may be obtained, the holder is light, and the parts, being separable, may be easily packed in a small space.

It is customary to place books upon tables and flat surfaces, and in piles, from Which in order to remove the volume desireda number of others have to be displaced. Bookracks or holders with a base of limited length, and with side pieces hinged or otherwise fastened thereto, are also used, but such holders are not readily adapted to greatly varying numbers of books, and their capacity is eX- tremely limited, while the books placed in them are usually raised in an awkward manner above the level of the table or surface on which they are set. With the improved support or holder, the bases are no longer than is requisite to receive upon them anumber of books--say, two or three, of which the weight, when placed thereon, is sufficient to prevent the base from being overturned by the lateral pressure of the outermost volume of the row of books against the side piece, which serves to keep it, and, in consequence, the other volumes of the row, in proper vertical position. The volumes placed on the bases are not visibly elevated above the surface of the table on which, in the case of any considerable number of books in a row, the other volumes not so placed are resting, and, from the fact that the end pieces may be freely approached to or removed from one another, it

is obvious that the improved support or holder is of unlimited capacity, and that it accommodates equally a large or a small number of volumes.

I do not broadly claim a single angular metallic plate in the abstract; but 1 am not aware that an angular end piece has been made and used, as herein described, to support books upright.

I claim- 1. As a new article of manufacture, a book support or holder, composed of separate and unconnected end pieces movable toward or away from each other, substantially as .described, the bases being adapted to extend under and be held down by the book or books at either end of a row of books, and the side WILLIAM STEBBINS BARNARD.

Witnesses HARRY HURST, A. BELL. 

